Seaming machine



June 4, 1929. M, GHLER 1,715,369

SEAMING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet g Y III\YVENTOR I BY 2 ATTORNEY June 4, 1929. Malm "1,715,369

SEAMING MACHINE Filed June-l8, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTQR d ATTORNEY June 4, 1929. fj 1,715,369

\ smmue MACHINE Filed June 18, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ,4 ATTORNEY June 4, 1929. I .1 M, KbH ER 1,715,369

SEAMING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 18, 1925 1 4, 1929. KQH'LER 1.715.369

.SEAMING MACHINE F iled June 18. 1925. a Sheets-Sheet 5 'A'ITO EY Jun 4, 1929.' KQHLER 1,715,369

DSEAMING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR June 4, 1929. KQ 1,715,369

SEAMING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1925 Y s Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR W W W Q M ATTORNEY Patented ts 4, 1929.

r'A'rs tirorrica i y max xor'rnna, orLmBAcH, GERMANY.

'SEAMING Macrame.

Application filed June 1a, 1925, Serial No. 3 7,916, and in Germany march 2'7, 1925.

The present invention relates to an improvement' 1n seaming or sewmg machines of a type used for uniting the edges of knitted or similar fabrics by means of a double thread chain stitch. .One object of the "present invention has been to provide a'seaining machine which-can be operated at exceedingly high speed with a minimum. of vi-bration. I This is achieved in part by simplifying the transmission mechanism and imparting thereto the smallest possible motions to se-- cure the necessary movement of the chain forming elements. It is also desirable in a high speed machine to dispense as far as possible with elements which result in 'undue frictional resistances. Where the ma chine isof the type in which the feeding of the work is intermittent, it will also be advantageous to provide a simple, effective and positive step by step i will cause as little vibration as possible. in the operation of the machine.

Among other objects of tion is that of providing a seaming machine by means of which it is possible to so control the passage of the work therethrough that the uniting chain of stitches will pass through the last courses of meshes on the fabric to be sewed together; A disadvantage in connection with some types of machines designed for a similar "purpose is that the chain of stitches or loops embraces more than the out-- ermost'edge meshes of the'contiguous fab.-'

rics and therefore produces an irre ular and bulgy appearing seam which is highly undesirable, particularly in the manufacture of looper will bomore completely and accurately .efie'cted.

One embodiment of my invention isillus present specification, and in which feedingmovement whichthe present inven-' very fine stockings and other fine knit goods.

in the direction or tha -needle whereby cooperation with the trated in the drawings 'acconipanying thez Figure 1 is a side elevation with portions" shown in vertical section,

.Figure 2, a bottom plan view witha portion of the base broken away to disclose a portion of the feeding mechanism, I

F1 gure 3, a side elevation with a portion in vertical section showing the looper movement mechanism, V V y Figure 4, a diagrammatic representation of the movements of the looper actuating mechanism, w r i Figure-5, a rear elevation with portions broken away to illustrate in part the looper actuating mechanism and the thread needle actuating" mechanism,

Figure .6, a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3,

' 'Figure 7, a horizontal sectionon the line 77 of Figure 3, y a Figure 8, a detail perspective view of the looper and the needle with the latter in maxi mum extended position, g Y I Figure 9, a similar view with the needle in extended position and moving rearw'ardly,

Figure 10, a similar view with the needle still moving rearwardly and with the looper 1n engagement with a loop of the thread carriedby the needle, 4

Figure 11, a similar vievi' showing the needle in full retracted position and the looper 1n position to permit engagement of itsthread by the needle on the next forward movement thereof,

. Figure 12,- a view in perspective illustratemg the formation of the chain stitch onthe chaining needle. 4

Figure 13, a fragmentary top view of the needle and a portion of the work feedingmechanism, Figure 14, a central vertical section showmg 'port1ons of the work feeding cylinders with work in operative position between them,

Figure 15, a side elevation indetail partly d in section showingthe needle and the thread 100 guiding mechanismwith the needle in retracted position r Figure 16, a front'view of the mechanism' illustrated in Figure 15, Figure 17 ,aside elevation indetail showing the needle and the thread guiding mechanism when the needleis passing through the work to be united,

Figure 18, a front view of the mechanism illustrated Figure 17,

= machineincluding a casing 1 having an interiorly disposed bracket 2 and a hollow standard or supporting member ,3. A separate hollow standa'rdor su porting member 4 is hinged to thecasing a 5, Figure 3, andis normally held in operative position by means of a leaf spring 6 having its free end bearing against the free end ofa lever 7 secured to said standard 4. With the standard 4 movably or yieldingly mounted with respect ,to standard 3 as described, the fabric or Work to be seamed is readily inserted between' a pair of feed cylinders 8 and 9 which are.

preferably fluted at their peripheral surfaces, as indicated in Figure 3. A main shaft 10 is journaled in the casing 1 and may be rotated by any suitable means, such for example as an electric motor, not shown, from which power may be. transmitted by a belt to a pulley 11 mounted on shaft 10.-

As shown in Figure 1, the cylindersS and 9 are attached to spindles 12 and 13, respectively, which are mounted in and extend throu'ghthe standards 3 and 4. A grooved clutch pulley 14 is securedto the spindle 12 5 and cooperates with a plurality of wedge pawls 15 pivotally mounted on an oscillatable disc 16 at 23, said disc being pivotally mounted on the spindle 12and actuated from the shaft 10 through an eccentric 17, a lever 18 4o pivoted at 19, and a link 20 connected to the disc 16 by a ball-and socket joint including a crank pin having a ball 21 cooperating with e a socket on the link 20. The wedge pawls 15 are retained normally in engagement with the groove of the pulley 14 by means of springs 22. Thus, when the link 20 is moved in thedirection of the arrow, Figure 2, the disc 16 will be rotated in a'clockwise direc- -tion and the pawls 15 will be deflected in such 5c ateway as to ride across the clutch pulley114 Without turning it. This operation is m sured b means of a brake pawl 24 pivoted at i 25 on a racket 26 and having its free end held in operative engagement with theclutch pul ley 14 by means of a spring-27.' Upon the =return stroke ofthe link 20, the brake pawl" j 24becomes' inoperative and the pawls'15 then engage the clutch pulley 14 to rotate the same 1 'and thereby the spindle 12. A. gear 28, Fig- 69 ure 1, is mounted on the spindle 12 and m'eshes with a gear 29 on the spindle 13,'thus drivingthe feed cylinder .'9.' It will be understood the'mechanism hereinabove, described or by other. suitable variation thereof, is'intended to advance the feed cylinders by an amount substantially equivalent-to the distance between the centers of adjacent fabric meshes so that in operation, the needle and the looper I willcooperate with the fabricin such a way as to form a chain loop foreach pair of united fabric, loops. The length of each fefding movement depends upon the extent ofrota: tion .of the disc 16 and can'be varied by adjusting the position of the link20 with re spect to a slot 30 in the lever18, the longest stroke being effected when the connection be-. tween the said lever and the link 20 is at the extreme outer end of the slot 30. L

As shown in Figure 1, a thread needle 31 is mounted in a head 32 carried on a rod 33 slidably mounted in bearings 34 and 35 formed in the bracked 2.-' Reciprocatoryj movement is imparted to said rod 33 by means of a lever 36 pivoted at 37 and a link 38. A connecting rod 39 has one end secured to the lever 36 at 40, the other end being in engagement with an ecc entric,41, Figure 7 mounted on the main drive shaft 10.

. As indicated in Figure 3, the hook or looper 9.

42 is mounted at one end of a rod 43, said rod being supported by a carrier or, bushing 44 and ,free to rotate therein. Forward and backward movement of the carrier 44 is effected by means of a bell crank 45 pivoted at 46 and actuated by means of a connecting rod 47 which is in turn operated by an eccentric 48 mounted on the main driveshaft 10.

Vertical oscillatory movement of the looper carrier 44 is secured by means of a 10 lever-'49 pivoted at 50 and connected to said carrier' by means of a link 51. Rocking movement of the lever 49 is produced by means of an eccentric 52 mounted ou-m ain' drive shaft 10 and a connecting rod 53 inter 10 posed between said lever 49 and the eccentric 52. The operation of the loopercarrier 44 and'the courseof movement of the end of the looper mounted thereon will be better understood by reference to Figure 4- of the draw 11 ing. Thus when the looper is in retracted position as at A, was illustrated in Figures 15 and 16, the .vertical and horizontal re'ciproeating mechanisms occupy the res ective positions indicated by the full lines in said 11 diagram. When thelooper occupies the l other or outer extreme posltion as at B, or as illustrated in Figures 19"and 20, the vertical and horizontal reciprocatory mechanisms occupy the relative positions indicated by means of the broken-lines in the diagram; Similarly,-the mean or intermediate position C, as illustrated in Figures 17 and18,'is attained 1 when the parts occupy-the relative ositions indicated by the dottedjlines in the iagram; 12 As shown'in Figure 3, the link 51 is prefl erably formed in two parts with an intermethat the step by step movement produced by'. -d-iate portion 54 which is threaded or pro.-

.videdwith other suitablemeans whereby the diminished thereby increasing or diminish- .ing the vertical displacement of the carrier 44. While the carrier 44 is being subjected to simultaneous vertical and horizontal recipe rocating-movements, the rod '43, rotatably mounted in said carrier, is periodically rotated to produce a transverse'arcuate movement of the thread carrying end of the looper 42. This rotation isetl'ected-by a shortlev'er 55, Figure 5, secured to the rod- 43 and connected by means of a ball and socket joint 56 with a connecting rod 57 engaging an eccentric 58 mounted on mainshaft 10. The rod 57 consists of separate parts joined by an in termediate piece 59 which is threaded or providedwith other suitable means whereby the etfective length of therod can be variedto synchronize or adjust the rotative movement of rod 43 with respect to the vertical and horizontal or endwise vmovements thereof.

From the foregoing description of the needle and looper actuating mechanisms, it will be apparent that a seaming machine cinbodying my invention will be capable of high s eed operation, that there will be relatively little vibration-on accountol the short throw of moving parts and the factthat practically all moving parts are balanced. l urthcrmore, the construction illustrated is capable of 1 minute regulation and adjustment so that highest degree of accuracy.

Referring to Figures 1, 13, 14 and 16, it will be noted that my improved machine is equipped with'a pair of cooperating yielding ;fabric or work guides 60 and 61 and an intermediate guide 62,-all supported in operative position on a bracket 63 by means of depending arm 64 pivotally secured thereto at 65 and movable toward and from, the feed cylinders 8 and 9. The bracket 63 is adjustable vertically thereby permitting movement of the guides 60, 61 and 62 in a vertical direction to adjust the position of the upper edge of the work so that the needle 31 may engage i and unite the outermost loops or meshes of the fabric. A screw having a thumb piece 66 engages the bracket 63 to hold it in operative 1 position. The manner of assembly of the work in the machine is more clearly shown in Figures 13 and-14 wherein 67 and 68 represent 1 the work of which the edges are to be'u'nited. j A bracket 69 supported by the casing 1 and l extending across the cylinder 8 carries a chaining finger 70 lying just above the path of the needle 31, Figure 14, andafiord'ing a guide for the upper edges of the fabrics to. be oined. The other function of the chaining finger will be better understood by reference to Figures 8 to 11 inclusive which show that the combined operations of the looper 42 andithe needle 31 produce thereon a continuous 'chain of stitches formed by the interlock-.

ing of the looper thread 72 andthe needle thread 71, said chain being carried off and i v I the parts can be made to articulate with the beyond the chaining finger as the work is fed beyond the cylinders 8 and 9.

As indicated more clearlyin Figures 6, 7'

and'20, the needle 31 is positioned to reciprocate between the inner or discharge ends of the work guides 60, 61 and 62 and a plane defined by the central vertical axes of the feed.

position there is less likelihood that the edge meshes of the fabrics to be'joincd will have curled out of position to effectively receive the advancing needle; Curling of the fabric cdgeafter itleavcs the guides presents the meshes in such a manner that the needle engages meshes other than those at the edge,

thus resulting in a bunching or thickening on the seam. l

In order to form a continuous and therefore etl'ective chain of interlocking loops, it is essential not only that the accurate cooperation of thelooper and the needle be established. but also that the threads carried by these parts respectively shall constantly as-.

sume certain predetermined relative positions with respect to said looper and needle. v

The problem is not so ditlicult with respect to the thread 72 or that carried by the looper,

inasmuch as it is un'der some tension atthe time the needle moves forward to engage it, Figure 11. However, there is frequently dif ficulty with the operation of thread 71 carried by the needle. As shown in Figure 9,

looper 42 is about to engage anu'pstanding loop of the thread 71. Obviously, if the machine is vibrating excessively or if the tension on thread 71 is not accurately adj usted,

it is not unusual forthe loop to be displaced or deformed in such a manner that the looper 42 will failto engage it as intended. This difficulty I control in part by providing improved tensioning mechanism for the thread 71.

As shown in Figure 15, the threads 71 and 72 are brought down over a thread brake 73 and pass through the openings in fixed thread guides 74 and 75 respectively. .The thread 72 passes through'an. opening in a movable guide 76 and thence to the looper 42. The head 32 which carries needle 31 is provided with a movable guide 77 through which the thread 71 passes on its way to the needle 31.

Between thefixed guide 75 and the movable guide 77 is -a pin or rod 78 secured at one end to the casing l and provided at' the opposite or free end with a' book 79., The thread 71 engages the surface of said rod which lies adjacent to the hook 79, said surface being of cam shape or of irregular contour as indicated more clearly in Figures 6 and 7. A flat spring 80 is positionedto yieldingly engage a portion of said cam surface of the rod 78 and extends from the base thereof to a point between the hook 7 9 and the thread engaging face of the rod 7 8.' In operation, when the needle 31 1noves forward and back, the thread is constantly guided adjacent to the guide 7 7 and its passage between the rod and said springis subject to varying frictional resistance, increasing in the rearward direction and diminishing 1n the forward direction. Furthermore, only very small increments of thread are exposed-between guides so that there is little or no harmful effect of the weight of the thread on the formation of the upstanding loop hereinabove referred to. The improved tensioning mechanism also makes it impossible for an excess of thread to be -presented',at the end of the needle. This-prevents the loop from becoming unduly large and avoids the occurrence of vibration or flutter which is detrimental 'toaccurate operation. In the retracted position or dead motion point of the needle, the

thread is loose at the forward end and is-held under increased resistance to passage by the spring 80.- -However, as the needle apsupporting and feeding means consisting of a pair of cooperating peripherally contiguious cylinders, w0rk guiding means having portions positioned between said cylinders to present work for engagement by said eylinders, a, thread needle, and needle actuating means positioned and adapted to reciprocate said needle through the work at one side of a. plane passing through the axes of said cylinders.

2. A seaming machine comprising a pair of peripherally contiguous cylindrical work supporting and feeding members, work guiding means having portions positioned between said cylinders to present work forengagement between said members, and a thread needle positioned to reciprocate across the path of travel of the work and betweensaid guiding means and the line of contiguity between said cylinders.

3. A seaming machine comprising a casing, a looper supporting carrier therein, a drive shaft, a lever having one end operatively connected with said shaft, a link having one end pivoted to said carrier and the other end opcratively connected to said lever, a bell crank fulcrumed above the path of said carrier and having a bifurcated depending arm,- opposed pivotal carrier supporting connections between said arm and said carrier, and means operatively connecting the drive shaft with the other arm of said bell crank.

4:. A seaming machine comprising a casing,

a partition extending rearwardly from the front wall of said casingand forming abracket having spaced bearings, a recipro-- eating needle carrier slidab'ly mounted 'in said bearings, means positioned at. one side of said bracket for engagingand operating said carrier, a looper carrier pendularly supported in the casing above said needle carrier, means positioned at the other side of saidbraeket for engaging andoperating said looper carrier, and a main drive shaft effectively connected with said needle carrier and looper carrier operating means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specificationthis first 'day of May, 1925. U v

' MAX KOI-ILER. 

